Today’s matchup with the Oakland A’s marks the end of the 2020 road for the Mariners. Seattle, predicted to finish near the bottom of the AL West, was able to hang around in the postseason race for most of the year, vying for the final wildcard spot. However, the team was unable to get hot and make a final push for the wildcard like they had hoped. Instead, the Mariners will try to find some momentum with a season-ending win, while starter Marco Gonzales looks to cap a tremendous season.
On the other side of the diamond, the Oakland Athletics have clinched the top spot in the AL West, but there is some concern about a lineup that has struggled over the past 14 games, slashing just .204/.292/.343. Matt Chapman, the centerpiece of the A’s lineup, had his season end three weeks ago due to an injury, and Oakland has struggled to score runs at the same rate as they had prior to the injury. During the first three games of the series with the Mariners, the A’s have not shown signs of the offensive slump ending, and today’s matchup against a playoff-caliber pitcher will not make things easier.
Gonzales Looks to Finish Season Strong
Seattle starter Marco Gonzales has been the best arm for the Mariners this season, posting a 3.42 FIP and a 0.912 WHIP while striking out 59 batters in 64.2 innings. Gonzales has walked six batters all season, and has won his past five starts, allowing just 11 runs over 35 innings. One of those wins was the first game of a doubleheader against the A’s, in which Gonzales allowed five runs and six hits over six frames while striking out seven. Gonzales’s last start was one of his best of the season, going eight innings, allowing just seven hits and zero runs against the Astros. Now, Gonzales gets a struggling A’s lineup in his season finale.
The problem for Gonzales may be the young offense, which has experienced inconsistencies throughout the season. Over the past seven games, the Mariners have slashed a lowly .184/.285/.269 with 23 runs and four home runs, but did erupt for nine runs over the first four innings of the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Ty France has the best slash line of any Mariner over that stretch with .261/.292/.304. Kyle Lewis has enjoyed a good year against righties (team-high .293 avg with 7 home runs) and leads the team with a .263 average on the road. That lack of offense has been the Mariners undoing this season.
Montas, A’s Seeking Answers Heading Into Playoffs
Frankie Montas started the season on a roll and was one of the top pitchers in the majors. At that time, the offense was clicking as well, which made the A’s the best team in all of baseball. For Montas, that roll ended on August 18 against the Diamondbacks. Montas surrendered nine runs before getting out of the second inning and has not recovered since. The offense continued its roll until mid-September when Matt Chapman went down with a season-ending injury. Now, both Montas, who has lost two consecutive starts, and the lineup are seeking answers heading into the postseason. Montas has given up nine runs on 14 hits over the past 9.1 innings. Before that fateful game against Arizona, Montas shut down the Mariners over seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine.
The Oakland offensive production took a nosedive about the time of Chapman’s season-ending injury. Over the past seven games, that slide has continued as the A’s have slashed a meager .204/.292/.343 over the past 14 days. The hits just are not falling, as the A’s have a .217 BABIP during that stretch.
Jake Lamb’s .267/.313/.533 slash line leads the team over the past seven games. Tommy La Stella leads the team’s righty splits, hitting .300 this season.
Notable Trends
- Oakland: 2-6 in last eight games against starter with less than a 1.15 WHIP
- Oakland: N/A
- Seattle: 4-1 in last five Sunday games
- Seattle: 10-3 in last 13 games against AL West
